Cardinal Roger Mahony greets Archbishop José H. Gomez during the welcoming Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Wednesday.
Posted on 05/27/2010 8:34:00 AM PDT by NYer
Cardinal Roger Mahony greets Archbishop José H. Gomez during the welcoming Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Wednesday.
They came from everywhere: cardinals in red skullcaps from the Vatican and Philadelphia, priests and parishioners from Newbury Park, Camarillo and Ventura who battled motion sickness on commuter trains or prayed for parking.
Juan Cano, a 27-year-old Camarillo seminarian, stood outside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles on Wednesday, his tie rippling in the breeze, for the same reason as the 4,000 others:
History.
He came to watch Coadjutor Archbishop José H. Gomez welcomed to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in a ritual-filled Mass that marked the beginning of a path that will make him the leader of the nation’s largest archdiocese.
Gomez, 58, will succeed Cardinal They came from everywhere: cardinals in red skullcaps from the Vatican and Philadelphia, priests and parishioners from Newbury Park, Camarillo and Ventura who battled motion sickness on commuter trains or prayed for parking.
Juan Cano, a 27-year-old Camarillo seminarian, stood outside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles on Wednesday, his tie rippling in the breeze, for the same reason as the 4,000 others:
History.
He came to watch Coadjutor Archbishop José H. Gomez welcomed to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in a ritual-filled Mass that marked the beginning of a path that will make him the leader of the nation’s largest archdiocese.
Gomez, 58, will succeed Cardinal They came from everywhere: cardinals in red skullcaps from the Vatican and Philadelphia, priests and parishioners from Newbury Park, Camarillo and Ventura who battled motion sickness on commuter trains or prayed for parking.
Juan Cano, a 27-year-old Camarillo seminarian, stood outside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles on Wednesday, his tie rippling in the breeze, for the same reason as the 4,000 others:
History.
He came to watch Coadjutor Archbishop José H. Gomez welcomed to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in a ritual-filled Mass that marked the beginning of a path that will make him the leader of the nation’s largest archdiocese.
Gomez, 58, will succeed Cardinal Roger Mahony, who will retire Feb. 27 on his 75th birthday after more than 25 years as the archdiocese’s leader. Until then, Gomez will serve as second-in-command.
He will become the first Latino archbishop in a region that includes five million Catholics in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties, 70 percent of them Latino. That distinction grabs Cano, who like the archbishop was born in Mexico.
“As a Latino, it gives you hope we can all make it,” he said. “It’s good to see someone similar to me in a position like that.”
Gomez comes to Los Angeles from Texas, where he served five years as archbishop of San Antonio. Before that, he was an auxiliary bishop in Denver.
He comes with a reputation as an advocate for immigrants. His membership in the conservative Opus Dei movement has stirred speculation about a possible emphasis on orthodoxy.
Some of the parishioners invited to the Mass saw it as a chance to begin to discover Gomez’s vision for the archdiocese and how he’ll deal with everything from the way clergy abuse has changed outside perceptions of the church to the way services are conducted.
Others came to compare the newcomer to Mahony, a tireless advocate for immigration reform who also has been criticized by some for his handling of the clergy scandal.
For most, it was a chance to witness a ceremony they considered a once-in-a-lifetime event. Ed Ehren, an 80-year-old Eucharistic minister from Holy Cross Catholic Church in Moorpark, came on the Metrolink train in his Sunday suit wearing a pin from the Vatican marking his service to the church.
“I was ecstatic,” he said of being invited to Gomez’s welcoming. “I said yes immediately. It’s the leader of my spiritual life here.”
The Mass drew a full house, with 59 bishops and seven cardinals attending, including William Levada, the highest-ranking American in the Vatican. Joined by 411 priests, they marched through the cathedral in a procession, the air thick with incense.
After a homily by Mahony, a letter from Pope Benedict XVI was read naming Gomez as the eventual leader of the archdiocese. Mahony turned to the congregation and asked if they are committed to supporting their new coadjutor archbishop.
“We are,” they said, the words marking Gomez’s entrance into his new position.
Gomez spoke of the archdiocese’s diversity, calling it a beautiful family. He pledged to continue Mahony’s work, fighting for freedom and the sanctity of life. He asked for the help and prayers of parishioners.
“I cannot believe I am here, my friends,” he said. “This is awesome.”
At the end of Mass, Mahony asked Gomez to sit in the huge bishop’s chair, the cathedra, just to make sure it fit. So he did.
“It’s kind of big,” Gomez said. “I think I can make it.”
Cardinal Roger Mahony, left, offers the Eucharist while Archbishop José H. Gomez watches on during Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Mahoney is a disgrace to the Church.
A host that large is completely unnecessary.
God bless Abp. Gomez.
Call me a clueless redneck if you want to, but I still think the Taj Mahony is pretty cool.
That’s what I thought....ridiculous.....Too Hollywood!!
Those vestments look like they were salvaged from a 70s thrift store. I mean brown? Really?!?
I pray that Archbishop Gomez can pull this particular church back from the liturgical brink!
It looks like a dinner plate. And is it me or does it look too heavy to hold up?
Comment reported in the LA Times today:
"We're a very progressive diocese," Jose Moreno said, "and we want to continue to be progressive — but Catholic progressive — and I think he'll continue that."
(((((((((BARF)))))))))
With its shape and rough edges...
Well, never mind. I assume that it was made up of valid matter and so I wouldn't want to be disrespectful.
Never mind.
Being a target in your own country for a bunch of violent invaders is less then spiritual.
You are correct.
I apologize for my disrespect.
I’m sorry. All I said was I liked the building.
Probably the fullest that Cathedral has ever been! And people standing outside!
I bet that is one thing Gomez changes, don’t you!
LOL! I agree with you!
The row of bishops and priest processing in is quite impressive.
**Jose Moreno said, “and we want to continue to be progressive — but Catholic progressive — and I think he’ll continue that.”**
From what I have read about Archbishop Gomez — he is NOT a progressive. I think Mr. moreno will not be sad, though.
The disrespect is on the head of the Archdiocese. The Host is not supposed to resemble a tortilla. The Body of Christ is not a prop!
Thousands attend ceremony for next L.A. cardinal
Why Transitions Matter (Mahony to Gomez in Los Angeles)
Bishop answers readers' tough questions about immigration
Cardinal Roger Mahony's Religious and Political Agenda
Suspended Gay Calif. Priest Laments: Abp. Gomez a 'Sharp Thrust to the Right' for LA Diocese
More Bogus Charges Against Archbishop Gomez
SEX ABUSE LAWSUIT NAMES SAN ANTONIO ARCHDIOCESE
Latino Immigrants Proud That L.A.'s Next Archbishop Is 'One of Us' [Can We Get Rid of Ethnic Pride?]
In Defense of Archbishop Gomez's Handling of Abuse Scandals
Archbishop Gomez: Who is He?
Why Archbishop Gomez is like other Bishops Appointed by Pope Benedict
An Interview with Archbishop José H. Gomez
Gomez vows to be an advocate for L.A.'s immigrants...(misleading title alert!)
San Antonio's Archbishop José Gomez named by Pope to be successor to Cardinal Roger Mahony. ...
Precious words from the archbishop... [Jose Gomez]
New Coadjutor of Los Angeles One of 22 Opus Dei Bishops
Opus Dei Seeks to Make Everyday Life Holier
Archbishop Gomez 'deeply grateful' for Los Angeles appointment
Cardinal Mahony grateful LA will have Hispanic archbishop
Vatican: Archbishop Gomez appointed to Archdiocese of LA
Pope's 'Revenge' As LA Gets Opus Dei Bishop [Pope's "Revenge" on Hollywood Sodomites!]
Gomez Holds Both Conservative And Progressive Views [Denounced College for Pro-Abortion HRC Invite]
Pope Names Latino Leader For L.A. Archdiocese [Member of Conservative Opus Dei Movement]/a>
Historic Appointment to LA Archdiocese
Report: Gomez is going to L.A.
It's Official: New Archbishop [Gomez} for Los Angeles
El Tiempo Ha Venido -- Reports: (Archbishop) Gomez Up to LA (Catholic Caucus)
[To replace Cardinal Mahony] Vatican rumor: an American prelate in play?
Los Angeles Getting a New Archbishop (Part 1)
Los Angeles Getting a New Archbishop (Part 2)
Even I could hold it up. It isn’t thick. But the last part of the hymn during the breaking of the Bread would have been repeated several times until it is all broken into small enough pieces to distribute. “Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace.” A Mass as important as this (regardless of whether we approve of the choice of Archbishop) is important, and calls for display.
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